What is the Urban Forest?

Simply defined, an "urban forest" comprises the trees within a municipality or a community. Some definitions include all "woody" vegetation. This can include the trees along streets, parks and greenspaces, forests, in the yards of private citizens, Trees are important to a community and to the environment for so many reasons besides adding a beautification aspect. The Louisiana Urban Forestry Council urges community leaders and citizens to consider their urban forest as a critical part of their infrastructure and each individual tree as an integral part of their ability to incorporate the natural environment in providing economic benefits to their community.

 

 

Trees have measurable value in preventing storm damage, providing energy savings improving air and water quality:

 

Storm water runoff is a major source of pollution entering coulees, bayous, rivers, lakes, wetlands, bays and the Gulf of Mexico. The canopies of trees intercept rainfall and store the rainwater temporarily on leaf and bark surfaces [interception]. Intercepted water evaporates or drips from leaf surfaces, and flows down stem surfaces to the ground. Interception is especially beneficial during less extreme rainfall events [which accounts for most rainfall events and are responsible for most pollutant runoff].

Trees provide watershed benefits through root growth. This increases the capacity of the soil to absorb rainfall thus, reducing overland runoff. Tree canopies act as living umbrellas reducing soil erosion by diminishing the impact of rain drops on barren soil. Transpiration of ground water through tree leaves reduces soil moisture, increasing the soil's capacity to store water.

 

Energy fuels economic growth and is an essential ingredient in providing the quality of life in which we are accustomed. Conserving energy by greening our cities is important and is more cost effective than building new power plants. Trees modify climate and conserve energy consumption of built surfaces in three principal ways. Trees shade built surfaces reducing the amount of radiant energy absorbed and stored by them. Trees reduce wind speed decreasing infiltration of outside air into interior spaces. Trees convert liquid to water vapor and release it [transpiration] into the air using solar energy from the sun, which results in lower air temperatures.

 

Energy Conservation

Properly placed shades trees can reduce home energy consumption by up to 30% by providing shade for roofs and walls and moderating the effects of wind and rain.

Energy Summer

Summer
Deciduous trees placed on the south and west walls will reduce indoor temperatures in summer by shading the roof and walls.
Energy Winter

Winter
In winter, these deciduous trees allow sunlight to help heat the house.

 

Air Pollutans are removed from the atmosphere by trees. Tree leaves absorb gaseous pollutants. In photosynthesis carbon dioxide is absorbed from the air by the leaves, oxygen is released into the air, the carbon retained in the form of simple sugars that ultimately become bark, leaves, wood and roots. The fixing of carbon from the atmosphere to biological forms is known as carbon sequestration. A large healthy tree growing at its maximum rate may remove up 800 pounds of carbon from the atmosphere per year.

 

The urban forest is a term that identifies a broad area and it may be defined as the sum of all green areas in and around dense human settlements ranging from small communities in rural settings to metropolitan regions. This includes parks, residential yards, roadside right of ways, wetlands and all of the trees, shrubs, and other vegetation associated within these areas. Ten percent of the urban forest is publicly owned, while ninety percent is found on private property

 

Urban forestry forestry or rather community forest management is defined as the planning for and management of a community's forest/green resources to enhance the quality of life of its inhabitants. This process integrates the economic, environmental, political and social values of the community in order to develop a comprehensive management plan for the community's tree canopy and green spaces.

The health of our planet is a major issue within community forest management. Its importance lies beyond beautification, tourism, scenic and public relations values.

 

Urban ecology, a blend of elements from biological ecology and human activity, is the main focus of this issue. It includes the natural processes of weather, vegetation and animal life and their interaction with man made environments; the behavior, man's physiological and developmental processes that seem directly related to aspects of the natural environments; and, the value systems that affect the inclusion of natural elements in the creation of urban environments. Urban ecology relates to the air we breathe, the water we depend on for many forms of subsistence and the community our children will inherit.

 

Urban Forestry and Tree Facts (PDF)
- Urban Forestry Facts provide useful information on the subject
- Tree Fact offer the benefit that trees provide

 

 

 

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